Use Your Voice

With Use Your Voice, Mason Jennings turns in what is easily his finest CD to date, an understated masterpiece of sensitive songwriting, minimalist production, and wonderful folk grooves. The vibe on this disc is heartfelt and intimate, but--as lead track "Crown" reveals--Jennings never succumbs to earnestness or folk-rock cliches. Instead, he captures the essence of vintage, pre-electric Dylan with poetic and timeless ballads about love and loss. Though Jennings is often compared to Jack Johnson, his bluesy songwriting and infectious rhythms on this fine disc are thoroughly unique. As his tunes move from funky ("Empire Builder," "Keepin' It Real") to somber ("Fourteen Pictures," "Ballad of Paul and Sheila"), he sounds soulful, not affected. All told, Use Your Voice is a great disc, and a fine introduction to this ascending talent. --Jason Verlinde